I recently discovered Brene Brown, a researcher storyteller that gave a Ted Talk on vulnerability and shame, courage and imperfection, that is so extraordinary I have since watched four times. It’s had 12+ million views, if that helps convince you to watch it. The holidays are the perfect time to talk about being imperfect, are they […]

The worst thing a woman can be in a relationship? Silent. But the art of expressing ourselves in living words, not typed ones, proves increasingly challenging. Here are 16 things I, like many of you, wish I learned to say to a man right as I came of age instead of a decade too late. […]

My sister Rachel came to visit us in Nashville this weekend which brought me to the realization that I’ve never told you about my wonderful sisters. Rachel is currently living in Turkey teaching English, which means she lives where Santa Claus was born (who knew?!) and has a proposal story concerning her and a […]

I made a big decision that summer. My parents gave me the choice to go back to camp with my old friends or go to camp earlier in the summer—with all new people—so I could be home to watch the 1996 Olympics. In my hometown. For an 11-year-old who did not easily make friends coupled […]

Today’s post is by Shannon Wilson, a co-founder of The Red Light Outreach—a ministry in a major Chinese city to women trapped in prostitution. I met Shannon when I lived in China and I am good friends with many of the women involved. Today, Shannon shares her story of her first encounter with the rampant […]

Today’s post is from my dear friend Natalie. She currently works as a post-doctorate at Stanford University in the radiology department. She happens to be the smartest person I know (and I know a lot of smart people) and I had the privilege of wading through her intellectual arguments against God and introducing her to […]

We were created to be in relationship by someone who longs for a relationship with each of us. But it can be hard to find friends–especially in new cities or amidst busy work schedules. Do you have friends in your life you can be honest with? Trust? Do you think living in community is important?

“Thanks to my Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ for calling me His daughter, leading me out of darkness into his wonderful light, protecting me, and never leaving my side. Without Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, my life would be void of the richest gifts and relationships — and I would never have […]

From the Sandstorms of Inner Mongolia to a Vanderbilt Ph.D–A Story of Genius, Triumph over the Impossible, and Perseverance Zhaoying Han, ‘Natalie’, received her Ph.D in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University yesterday– an impressive feat in itself – but what separates her from the rest is her unmatched perseverance and determination despite the impossible odds […]